Benjamin Attal: The Man Who Put a Ring on Thylane Blondeau

It's the engagement everyone in France is talking about: former child star model Thylane Blondeau is engaged to her long-term partner, Benjamin Attal. The 24-year-old shared a snap of her man popping the question on Instagram – and now the whole world is dying to know one thing: who's this Benjamin Attal who's won Blondeau's heart?

From Best Mate to Fiancé

Here's something a lot of people didn't know: before they were a couple, they were inseparable mates for years. "My best friend became my fiancé," Thylane wrote in her post, making it crystal clear she's got no doubts. Word has it the proposal was a pretty intimate affair, surrounded by family and their nearest and dearest. And that sparkler on her finger? An absolute stunner, everyone's saying.

The Women Behind the Scenes: Mum and Aunt are Over the Moon

No surprises here, but the first to congratulate them was Véronika Loubry. The bride-to-be's mum, who's a familiar face on French telly herself, flooded the comments section with love-heart emojis. And auntie Karine Le Marchand, the legendary host of "L'amour est dans le pré," also made a point of publicly congratulating her niece. The whole whānau seems absolutely chuffed with Benjamin.

A quick look at the reactions:

• Véronika Loubry: "My heart's bursting with happiness"
• Karine Le Marchand: "Finally official! Love you guys heaps"
• The Fans: Hundreds of comments celebrating the couple and admiring the ring

So, Who Actually Is Benjamin Attal?

Unlike his fiancée, who was strutting her stuff on catwalks worldwide as a kid, Benjamin Attal has mostly kept out of the spotlight. He's not an actor, not a singer – he's down-to-earth, keeps to himself, almost low-key. Those who know him describe him as Thylane's rock, the one who catches her when the model madness gets a bit too much. And it seems that's exactly what the young woman values in him: keeping it real.

Now that they're engaged, he probably won't find it so easy to fly under the radar. The paparazzi have already got him in their sights, and the gossip mags are full of speculation about the wedding. But if there's one thing for sure, it's that if anyone can keep their cool, it's Benjamin Attal – the bloke who suddenly went from a relative unknown to one of the most talked-about men in France.

Can't wait to see what the wedding looks like – and whether Mum Loubry and Auntie Karine will be the first ones on the dance floor again.